Denoix vs Burger
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mar, 18/02/2014 - 13:06
Biomechanics vs biomechanics :
attachment.fbsbx.com/file_download.php
A Comparison between the theories of Vet Surgeon Udo Bürger (Der Reiter Form Das Pferd - 1939)
and Vet Professor Jean-Marie Denoix (Physical Therapy and Massage for the Horse - 1988)
It can be very interesting to study the theories of the biomechanics of the riding horse. It's
really such a big and complex subject and the horse is so intricate and so many variables
influence its performance. There is so much yet to find, investigate and scientifically test
and prove. But it may not be as much undiscovered as one initially thinks...
I have studied modern dressage biomechanics for
years, now. What I mostly find is a lot of scientific
studies about particular details; how different types
of shoeing influences the hoof function, how the
snaffle fits in the mouth and how footfalls change
when trotting at different speeds. All interesting, of
course, but it does not give a general explanation to
how the horse works as a system. And such an all
encompassing knowledge of how the ridden horse
works is very much needed to train horses and
riders.
It's hard to find any studies into the general overall
athletic function of the horse when ridden, with a fe
exceptions. Dr Clayton's study on the shifting back of
the weight over the hindquarters in collection, is one
you can find on the internet. It was a very interesting
read in itself from a scientific point of view, but the
conclusion was even more interesting - that top
dressage horses don't necessarily have to shift weight
back in collection, in order to compete at the highest
levels, however those who did appeared to be the
most balanced. That says a lot more about modern
dressage riding than it does about the general
concept of collection.
The most general and overall description of dressage biomechanics written in modern times, and the one most widely used and referenced, comes from Jean-Marie Denoix and Jean-Pierre Pailloux in their book
Physical Therapy and
Massage for the Horse.
It is a very interesting
book, well written, and it
also contains as the title
suggests a lot of
descriptions for
treatments of injuries in
sport horses and their
training solutions, in a
very pedagogic way. In
that sense, and others,
it's a one of a kind book
and referenced by many,
if not all modern writers
on the subject of the biomechanics of the horse.
mar, 18/02/2014 - 16:54
#2
There is also a translated English version of the book,
but as usual with translations, I'm worried about the
original meaning and intent by the author being
compromised. I have read Gymnasium des Pferdes
in both English and German. It’s not the same book,
really. I don't know if the same fate struck this one. So i read the original one myself.
The two quite differing theories on riding horse biomechanics of the French and German books above have some fundamental differences that are very interesting to juxtapose. Very interesting, since what is written in Denoix's book has been standing un-argued for almost 20 years, and is described in horse articles everywhere as "the truth" when it comes to how the horse works and what we should expect of the horse when we ride. But in the light of how Bürger explains it, the absurdity of it becomes quite clear. Below are the main differences have been set opposite each other :
A : Vet. Surgeon Udo Bürger 1939 B : Vet. Prof Jean-Marie Denoix 1988
A : Bürger talks lengthily and in detail (p.19-) about different
types of muscles, those with strong faschia interwoven,
divided into sections by bands of tendinous material, and
covered with tendinous material, and those purely fleshy
ones. The tendinously re-inforced ones have multiple
amounts of muscle fiber (repeated per segment) and is
therefore many times stronger but don't shorten as much,
because of the tendinous material. They are postural
muscles, that keep the body parts in position. The fleshy
ones can shorten extremely but tire very fast if held
contracted. They are for moving - a pumping action.
B : Denoix makes no such differentiation, but divides the
different muscles into flexors and extensors of the spine
or joints (p. 52). He also calls some muscles gymnastic
(large, strong muscles) while calling others cybernetic
(more proprioceptive nerves) answering to subtler aids
(p. 17), and saying they can come into conflict with each
other. He does not point out which muscles are
cybernetic, other than saying those close to the spinal
column. He claims that in a stressed and tense horse, the gymnastic muscles take over.
mar, 18/02/2014 - 16:57
#3
A : Bürger describes the lowered neck function (p. 24-)
emanating from the tendinously interwoven semispinalis
muscle (p. 26) and continuing with the tendinously covered
and slanted multifidus that work efficiently against the
slanted spinal processes of the withers in an effective lever
function. The semispinalis muscle should grow into a nice
rounded topline after 2 years of basic work with the neck
stretched forward. The results were visible on live, trained
horses, compared to Denoix's skeletons.
B : Denoix describes the neck function as that of the head
pulling on the nuchal ligament to "get the back up" (p.
24). He describes how the head be pulled in and the
neck must be pulled down for this to happen, and which
muscles do it (the underneck). He also describes how the
nuchal ligament pulls on the spinous processes, but not
the role of the muscles. These experiments were done on
skeletons stripped of their muscles and thus a purely
mechanical function.
A : Bürger explains how the head comes to the vertical from
relaxation, and that the "Ganaschenbiegung" (flexion at the
poll) comes from the horse lifting the base of the neck and
releasing the top of the skull, to drop the nose to the
vertical. There are no muscles "flexing" because they
should be idle and become thinner. The "flexion" comes
from relaxation.
B : Denoix says the opposite - The long and short muscles of
the head (the underneck) should pull the chin in to flex
the poll, and this should pull the top of the skull forward
so much that the nuchal ligament somehow pulls the
withers up and arches the back. The small muscles of the
underneck lifting the back?! I find this so bizarre I have
even illustrated it below (Illustration 2 - page 4).
mar, 18/02/2014 - 17:06
#4
A : Bürger explains how the juxtavertebral muscles are
slanted diagonally and how the spinous processes are
tilted (p.26), all to facilitate the lever functions (p.29) of the
neck in front and the pelvis behind to manage the load of
the viscera and rider. The 2 levers help holding the back
up, and forward moving paces are necessary for the
stronger hind-lever to be able to do its work with each
stepping under of the horse's hindlegs.
B : Denoix is concerned with the topline muscles (longissimus
dorsi) and underline muscles (abdominals) working to
extend (hollow) or arch the back. He mentions the
underline is "underdeveloped" compared to the topline,
and needs careful attention and gymnastic strengthening to
be able to cope. One gets a feeling this could be done
isometrically in the stable, using one of those electrical ab-trainers from TV-shop. No need for forward movement...
A : Bürger explains the true purpose of the massive topline
muscles (Longissimus Dorsi) to work together with the
Quadriceps group and Gluteus muscles (the butt) to lift the
back over the broad hip on the same side as the lifted
frontleg (in that exact phase of the stride), by pulling it
over the broad hip like a crane. These muscles should also
grow substantially during the horse's training, because
they lift the forehand from behind.
B : Denoix simply sees the Longisimus Dorsi as antagonist to
the underline muscles and the Gluteus muscles as
pushing muscles of the hindlegs, and declare the whole
burden of carrying the viscera and rider to the
abdominals. There's no explanation as to why we want
the back muscles to grow and fill out the back, since they
are obviously only antagonists to the real carries of the
load, the abdominals. With this theory, all focus should be
on the abs, not the back/croup. How unreal...
mar, 18/02/2014 - 17:07
#5
Sorry for the format, the link doesn't work so i have to copy/paste bit by bit. (to be continued...)
Allège Ideal
Another book, one that there's any reference at all in any other literature, despite it being very clear, concise and accurate. Did i mention brilliant? It is Udo Bürger's & Otto Zietschmann's Der Reiter formt das Pferd (The Rider Forms/Shapes the Horse). In our modern times, it feels like no-one has ever read this book first published in 1939. I was re-issued relatively recently in an affordable paper-back version for €15 ($22). Still, no-one seems to have read it. I guess it could have to do with the lack of glossy illustrations, or the heavy language, or possibly that it was published in times of war, and by a citizen of a country so maligned by that war. I hope that had nothing to do with it, but such things have happened before, for sure.